Written Answers Thursday 21 September 2006

Scottish Executive

Access for People with Disabilities

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it or Transport Scotland (a) have allocated or (b) are considering allocating to provide disabled access to the southbound platform at Lockerbie Station.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland awarded funding of £750,000 to provide disabled access to and from both platforms at Lockerbie station.

  Transport Scotland is involved in on-going discussions with Network Rail and Dumfries and Galloway Council to fully appraise the construction details and costs involved. Once this work has been concluded we will be in a position to advise on the way forward including funding options.

Agriculture

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the Rural Stewardship Scheme.

Ross Finnie: The Rural Stewardship Scheme is now closed. However, I have announced that I intend to bring forward a planned review of all agri-environment schemes, including the Rural Stewardship Scheme. The review will be completed as early as possible in 2007.

Agriculture

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers who could be classified as new entrants have entered the agricultural industry in each of the last five years, expressed as a percentage of all farmers.

Ross Finnie: I regret that the Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) does not capture information on the status of those entering agriculture in any detail that would allow a complete answer to the question. Nevertheless, following the convention that where proxy information is available it should be supplied, my officials have sourced the following from successful New Entrant applications to the National Reserve of the Single Farm Payment Scheme

  Under the National Reserve, to qualify as a New Entrant a business must meet the following criteria: they had entered an approved sector in the period 1 January 2003 to 2 November 2004 and had not, in their own name or at their own risk, been involved in agriculture in the previous five-year period prior to their application.

  In 2005, 303 businesses were approved as New Entrants and this equates to 1.41% of the average number of all farm businesses registering with SEERAD over the period of the Single Farm Payment Scheme to date.

Civil Servants

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all civil service jobs that have been dispersed from Edinburgh since 1999, giving the local authority area to which they were relocated.

George Lyon: The outcomes of location reviews since 1999 are set out in a table on the Executive’s relocation website. The numbers of posts dispersed from Edinburgh, in terms of the civil service and public service, to each local authority to date are as follows: Glasgow has received 400; Scottish Borders has received 218; North Ayrshire has received 140; Aberdeen has received 50; Falkirk has received 26; Dundee has received 30; West Lothian has received 104; West Dunbartonshire has received 12; East Ayrshire has received 12; Highland has received 239; Argyll and Bute has received 12, and Dumfries and Galloway has received 17 posts.

Dentistry

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provided to NHS Dumfries and Galloway in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07 to recruit, retain and train NHS dentists.

Lewis Macdonald: A number of allowances are available for the recruitment, retention and training of NHS Dentists. Details of these allowances can be found on the dental web pages on the Scottish Executive website. Payments in respect of 2004-05 for NHS Dumfries and Galloway can be found in the Scottish Dental Practice Board (SDBP) Annual report 2004-05. The SDPB report for 2005-06 has not yet been published and payment details for 2006-07 are not currently available.

  Under the Primary and Community care premises modernisation programme for 2006-07 and 2007-08, NHS Dumfries and Galloway will receive £2.37 million towards a new dental centre in Dumfries which will include dental training facilities. £300,000 of this sum has already been allocated in the current financial year.

  The Executive has also assisted financially NHS Dumfries and Galloway with the recruitment of five dentists from Poland who are now working in that area.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much investment is planned for schools and college facilities in the Clydebank and Milngavie parliamentary constituency between 2006 and 2010.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does not hold information centrally on planned investment in schools facilities as this is the responsibility of individual local authorities. However, you may wish to note that both East and West Dunbartonshire councils are each taking forward school PPP projects with a capital value of over £100 million for which the Executive will provide revenue support. In addition, East Dunbartonshire Council will receive £3,319,000 and West Dunbartonshire will receive £2,671,000 this financial year from the Schools Fund.

  The Scottish Funding Council has approved a capital funding grant of £23.4 million towards a new purpose built campus for Clydebank College at Queens Quay Clydebank. The estimated completion date for this project is July 2007.

Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to monitor the outcomes of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Robert Brown: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) have been commissioned to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act, commencing in 2005. A report of their findings will be published in autumn 2007.

Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations about different approaches to implementing the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Robert Brown: It is for individual local authorities to interpret the legislation and discharge their duties in line with the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (the Act). The Scottish Executive has been made aware that local authorities do vary in their approaches to implementing the Act. However, the Scottish Executive has commissioned a series of Information Sharing Seminars across Scotland to facilitate the sharing of practice across education authorities, health boards and other services. These seminars will take place over the next two months.

Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many co-ordinated support plans have been adopted in each local authority since the introduction of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Robert Brown: This information is not currently held centrally but will be collated during the 2006 pupil census, which is due to be published in February 2007.

Environment

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it welcomes the decision of Tesco to reward customers who use alternatives to plastic bags.

Ross Finnie: We welcome moves by retailers to reduce the unnecessary use of plastic bags and to reduce packaging generally.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the United Kingdom’s recent signing of the European Landscape Convention, what specific measures are being taken by the Executive to ensure that the commitments made under Articles 5 and 6 of the convention are acted upon and are reflected in future legislation and policies in respect of Scotland’s landscapes.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is satisfied that existing legislation and administrative systems for land use planning and environmental management provide appropriate means for meeting the obligations and objectives set out in the European Landscape Convention.

  In addition, the Executive has given its support to Scottish Natural Heritage’s initiative in establishing the Scottish Landscape Forum, which will provide recommendations to ministers early next year on the future care of all Scotland’s landscapes. Work is also underway on measures for the protection of rural landscape and the natural heritage within the framework of the Scottish Rural Development Programme 2007-13, while our regeneration policies are addressing green space issues in our urban areas. The Executive has also consulted on proposals for new legislation for Scotland’s national landscape designation, the National Scenic Area, which is currently being considered by Parliament.

Genetically Modified Food

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the EU following the recent discovery of unlicensed genetically modified LL601 rice from the United States of America in cargo.

Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency has informed me that it has taken part in discussions on LLRICE601 with the European Commission and other EU member states, at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain on 25 August and on 11 September.

Genetically Modified Food

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the source of the unlicensed genetically modified LL601 rice which recently contaminated US rice.

Lewis Macdonald: The US Department of Agriculture has instigated a formal investigation but has not yet been able to provide any information on the source of the incident.

Genetically Modified Food

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the levels of contamination of the US rice crop by the unlicensed GM variety LL601.

Lewis Macdonald: The original announcement from the US was of a rice sample that contained an estimated 0.06% of LLRICE601. The extent of the incident is under investigation by the US Department of Agriculture, which has not yet been able to release any further information.

Genetically Modified Food

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with Bayer following the announcement of the contamination of the US rice by unlicensed genetically modified LL601 rice.

Lewis Macdonald: As this is an EU-wide incident potentially involving many member states, the European Commission has taken the lead on this incident and has held meetings with Bayer CropScience. The Food Standards Agency informs me that it has had no formal discussion with Bayer.

Genetically Modified Food

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much genetically modified rice has been inadvertently imported to Scotland in the last three years and what information it has on how much genetically modified rice has been inadvertently imported to the (a) United Kingdom and (b) European Union over the same period.

Lewis Macdonald: There is no information on the quantities of GM rice that might have been imported inadvertently during this period.

Genetically Modified Food

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether US rice has been contaminated by any genetically modified rice variety other than LL601.

Lewis Macdonald: The only type of GM rice that has been reported to be found in US rice is LLRICE601.

Genetically Modified Food

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the British Retail Consortium, or any of its members, following the contamination of US rice by unlicensed genetically modified LL601 rice.

Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency informs me that it held meetings with representatives of the British Retail Consortium on three occasions between 1 and 5 September to discuss this incident.

Health

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the current relationship between the NHS and GPs is sufficiently flexible to allow the provision or modernisation of local health facilities, such as health centres or GP surgeries, to go ahead in an expeditious manner.

Mr Andy Kerr: Yes.

  We already have a variety of options utilising both public and private finance that are being used to deliver first class facilities.

  A significant programme of Investment in Primary Care infrastructure has been delivered since 1999.

  However, we want to further improve the way we deliver infrastructure in Primary and Community Care. We are therefore actively progressing the Hub Initiative joint venture arrangements.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) consultant-led and (b) midwife-led maternity units are being considered for closure.

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many paediatric units are (a) being downgraded and (b) having in-patient facilities reduced.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for individual NHS boards. Any proposed significant changes in provision need to be submitted for ministerial approval. Ministers are currently considering proposals from NHS Grampian relating to provision of services in Aberdeenshire.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what trends are evident in the incidence of plagiocephaly in Scotland and what causes underlie these trends.

Lewis Macdonald: The following table details, for those ten NHS board areas available, the number and recorded rates of plagiocephaly for children born between 1995-2004. This information does show a rise in recorded cases of plagiocephaly, and this trend could be due to the practice of putting babies to sleep and play on their backs.

  

 Year of Birth
 No of Children Seen 
at 6-8 Weeks 1
 Number Identified with Plagiocephaly 
by 9 Months old 2
 Number Per 10,000 Children Seen 
at 6-8 Weeks


 1995
 28,446
 92
 32.3


 1996
 37,282
 115
 30.8


 1997
 41,476
 158
 38.1


 1998
 43,707
 169
 38.7


 1999
 42,130
 127
 30.1


 2000
 41,195
 157
 38.1


 2001
 41,665
 190
 45.6


 2002
 40,994
 163
 39.8


 2003
 41,942
 145
 34.6


 2004
 43,133
 149
 34.5



  Source: CHSP-PS.

  ISD Scotland, August 2005.

  Notes:

  Recorded cases of Plagiocephaly within the Child Health Surveillance Pre-School system: children born between 1995-2004

  1. The number of children who received a six to eight week review has been used to estimate the rate per 10,000 children.

  2. Includes children who received a first visit, six to eight week, eight to nine month, or an unscheduled review when the child was nine months old or less.

Housing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average household size is in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus.

George Lyon: According to the latest household projections produced by the General Register Office for Scotland, the average household size as at 30 June 2006 was (a) 2.02 in Dundee and (b) 2.20 in Angus.

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/library/household-estimates-projections/household-projections-for-scotland-2004-based/index.html, Tables 17.

Housing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus have a head of the household aged from (i) 16 to 29, (ii) 30 to 44, (iii) 45 to 59, (iv) 60 to 74, (v) 75 to 84 and (vi) over 85.

George Lyon: According to the latest household projections produced by the General Register Office for Scotland, the percentage of households headed by someone in each age group as at 30 June 2006 was:

  

 Age Group
 (a) Dundee
 (b) Angus


 16 to 29
 16%
 8%


 30 to 44
 25%
 26%


 45 to 59
 25%
 29%


 60 to 74
 20%
 23%


 75 to 84
 10%
 11%


 85 and over
 3%
 3%


 Total
 100%
 100%



  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/library/household-estimates-projections/household-projections-for-scotland-2004-based/index.html, Tables 11-16.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what total value of fines was remitted for (a) road traffic and (b) non-road traffic offences in (i) Glasgow District Court and (ii) Glasgow Sheriff Court between 1 April 2005 and 31 Mar 2006.

Cathy Jamieson: The total values of financial penalties remitted by Glasgow Sheriff Court between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006 are:

  (a) £3,387 for road traffic offences and

  (b) £60,230.57 for non- road traffic offences.

  This information is not available for district courts. The decision on remit of fines is a matter for the court.

Justice

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many alleged offences aggravated by religious prejudice were committed in each sheriffdom or local authority area in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06 and how many of these offences (i) were reported by the police, (ii) were brought to court and (iii) resulted in convictions.

Colin Boyd QC: The number of offences aggravated by religious prejudice is not separately identifiable in the recorded crime statistics collected centrally.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database contains information about charges reported to procurators fiscal where the charge involved a religious aggravation. The following tables provide a breakdown of such charges by sheriff court jurisdiction. As indicated in table 4, some of these cases have not yet reached a conclusion.

  Table 1: Number of Charges Received by Procurators Fiscal where the Charge included a Religious Aggravation

  

 Sheriff Court Area
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 Total


 Aberdeen
 5
 3
 1
 9


 Airdrie
 40
 55
 32
 127


 Alloa
 0
 2
 5
 7


 Arbroath
 1
 2
 0
 3


 Ayr
 4
 5
 10
 19


 Banff
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Campbeltown
 1
 0
 10
 11


 Cupar
 0
 1
 2
 3


 Dumbarton
 1
 3
 9
 13


 Dumfries
 1
 2
 1
 4


 Dundee
 22
 3
 7
 32


 Dunfermline
 3
 3
 5
 11


 Dunoon
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Duns
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Edinburgh
 5
 14
 10
 29


 Elgin
 0
 0
 3
 3


 Falkirk
 2
 2
 12
 16


 Forfar
 1
 1
 0
 2


 Glasgow
 132
 244
 454
 830


 Greenock
 0
 8
 6
 14


 Haddington
 0
 1
 2
 3


 Hamilton
 34
 75
 54
 163


 Inverness
 0
 3
 0
 3


 Jedburgh
 0
 2
 0
 2


 Kilmarnock
 3
 9
 34
 46


 Kirkcaldy
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Kirkcudbright
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Lanark
 0
 8
 4
 12


 Linlithgow
 9
 5
 13
 27


 Lochmaddy
 0
 1
 1
 2


 Oban
 0
 3
 1
 4


 Paisley
 4
 4
 12
 20


 Perth
 0
 4
 8
 12


 Rothesay
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Selkirk
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Stirling
 4
 8
 6
 18


 Stranraer
 0
 2
 1
 3


 Grand Total
 272
 479
 704
 1,455



  Table 2: Number of Charges (where the Charge included a Religious Aggravation) where Court Proceedings were initiated.

  

 Sheriff Court Area
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 Total


 Aberdeen
 4
 3
 0
 7


 Airdrie
 37
 47
 24
 108


 Alloa
 0
 2
 5
 7


 Arbroath
 0
 2
 0
 2


 Ayr
 4
 5
 9
 18


 Banff
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Campbeltown
 0
 0
 9
 9


 Cupar
 0
 1
 2
 3


 Dumbarton
 1
 2
 6
 9


 Dumfries
 1
 1
 1
 3


 Dundee
 15
 2
 4
 21


 Dunfermline
 3
 1
 5
 9


 Dunoon
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Duns
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Edinburgh
 4
 14
 7
 25


 Elgin
 0
 0
 2
 2


 Falkirk
 2
 2
 11
 15


 Forfar
 1
 1
 0
 2


 Glasgow
 113
 224
 415
 752


 Greenock
 0
 6
 6
 12


 Haddington
 0
 0
 2
 2


 Hamilton
 34
 69
 46
 149


 Inverness
 0
 3
 0
 3


 Jedburgh
 0
 2
 0
 2


 Kilmarnock
 3
 8
 32
 43


 Kirkcaldy
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Kirkcudbright
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Lanark
 0
 1
 3
 4


 Linlithgow
 9
 4
 13
 26


 Lochmaddy
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Oban
 0
 3
 1
 4


 Paisley
 3
 2
 8
 13


 Perth
 0
 3
 7
 10


 Selkirk
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Stirling
 4
 8
 4
 16


 Stranraer
 0
 2
 1
 3


 Grand Total
 238
 424
 624
 1,286



  Table 3: Number of Charges (where the Charge included a Religious Aggravation) where a Conviction was recorded.

  

 Sheriff Court Area
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 Total


 Aberdeen
 3
 2
 0
 5


 Airdrie
 20
 35
 12
 67


 Alloa
 0
 1
 2
 3


 Arbroath
 0
 2
 0
 2


 Ayr
 4
 4
 6
 14


 Banff
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Campbeltown
 0
 0
 4
 4


 Cupar
 0
 1
 2
 3


 Dumbarton
 1
 2
 4
 7


 Dumfries
 1
 1
 0
 2


 Dundee
 3
 1
 4
 8


 Dunfermline
 2
 1
 3
 6


 Duns
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Edinburgh
 3
 8
 5
 16


 Elgin
 0
 0
 2
 2


 Falkirk
 1
 1
 8
 10


 Forfar
 1
 1
 0
 2


 Glasgow
 78
 162
 248
 488


 Greenock
 0
 5
 5
 10


 Haddington
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Hamilton
 25
 49
 33
 107


 Inverness
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Jedburgh
 0
 2
 0
 2


 Kilmarnock
 3
 5
 27
 35


 Kirkcaldy
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Lanark
 0
 0
 2
 2


 Linlithgow
 6
 2
 8
 16


 Lochmaddy
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Oban
 0
 2
 1
 3


 Paisley
 2
 2
 6
 10


 Perth
 0
 2
 5
 7


 Selkirk
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Stirling
 1
 5
 4
 10


 Stranraer
 0
 1
 1
 2


 Grand Total
 154
 303
 393
 850



  Table 4: Number of Charges (where the Charge included a Religious Aggravation) where no Verdict has yet been recorded.

  

 Sheriff Court Area
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 Total


 Aberdeen
 1
 
 0
 1


 Airdrie
 0
 0
 9
 9


 Ayr
 0
 0
 2
 2


 Campbeltown
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Edinburgh
 1
 
 0
 1


 Glasgow
 4
 5
 81
 90


 Hamilton
 0
 0
 2
 2


 Kilmarnock
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Linlithgow
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Paisley
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Grand Total
 6
 5
 98
 109



  Notes:

  1. The information in these tables has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a procurator fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. The tables reflect the position at 14 September 2006.

Justice

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases referred to procurators fiscal under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 have been dropped.

Colin Boyd QC: Since the Act came into force in May 2005, Procurators Fiscal have received reports involving 470 charges relating to offences under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005. The following table provides a breakdown of the action taken in relation to those charges.

  Charges: Offences under Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 1 2 3

  

 Charges where court proceedings were taken. 
(Includes 13 cases where action was initiated but subsequently discontinued.)
 392


 Charges dealt with by an alternative to prosecution 
(e.g. a warning letter or reference to the Reporter to the Children’s Panel) or which were not prosecuted as separate charge but were related to other charges that were prosecuted.
 40


 Charges where no proceedings were taken.
 16


 Charges still under consideration.
 22



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. The table reflects the position at 14 September 2006.

Justice

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of alleged offences carried out against emergency workers while working in the community, under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005, have been reported to procurators fiscal, broken down by profession and job title of the victims.

Colin Boyd QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database does not record the locus of an offence or the profession or job title of victims in a way that would allow aggregate information to be extracted in the format requested.

  The following table shows the number of charges reported to Procurators Fiscal in respect of offences under each section of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act since its introduction in May 2005.

  Charges: Offences under Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 1, 2

  

 Section of Act
 Description of Offence
 Total No of Charges reported to Procurator Fiscal 3


 S:1(1)
 Assault, obstruct or hinder constable/fire officer/person providing assistance in terms of s35 or s36 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005/ambulance worker
 106


 S:2(1)
 Assault, obstruct or hinder other emergency workers responding to emergency circumstances
 144


 S:2(1)
 Assault, obstruct or hinder a social worker responding to emergency circumstances
 0


 S:3(1)
 Assault, obstruct or hinder person assisting emergency worker responding to emergency circumstances
 9


 S:5(1)
 Assault, obstruct or hinder health worker/ambulance worker/assistant to said workers on hospital premises 
 211



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. The table reflects the position at 14 September 2006.

Justice

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote zero tolerance of violence against emergency workers.

Mr Tom McCabe: No-one should have work in fear of being attacked or abused. Attacks on emergency workers are unacceptable, dangerous and callous. Those working in emergency situations fill an essential role, and should be able to go about their already difficult and often dangerous work without fear of assault or further threat.

  That is why the Executive brought forward the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 to make it a specific offence to assault, obstruct or hinder emergency workers (and those assisting them) when they are responding to emergency situations. The act sends a clear message to emergency workers and to the perpetrators of these abhorrent crimes - a message that we value emergency workers; that we condemn the assault of emergency workers or disruption of emergency services, and that we are prepared to take action to see such behaviour is punished appropriately.

  The Executive in also working with the STUC to tackle violence against all workers serving the public. This involves a package of measures, including an awareness campaign with the very clear message that physical or verbal violence against those who serve the public is unacceptable.

Legal Aid

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether carer’s allowance and pension credit should be included in the assessment of an individual’s income for the purpose of calculating entitlement to legal aid.

Hugh Henry: Schedule 2 of the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2002 allows the Scottish Legal Aid Board to disregard the income gained as a result of a number of benefits when determining disposable income as part of the eligibility criteria for civil legal aid.

  Neither carer’s allowance nor pension credit is included in this schedule and so income as a result of these benefits will be included in the assessment of an applicant's disposable income.

Legal Aid

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why recipients of income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance qualify automatically for free advice and assistance from the Scottish Legal Aid Board, whereas those in receipt of pension credit do not.

Hugh Henry: Recipients of income support or income-based job-seeker’s allowance qualify automatically for free advice and assistance only on income grounds. A capital test also however applies. If the applicant has more than the prescribed limit for disposable capital (currently £1,450), they will be ineligible for advice and assistance whether in receipt of income support or job-seeker’s allowance or otherwise.

  The position with pension credit is different. An applicant in receipt of pension credit does not qualify automatically for free advice and assistance on income grounds; however any pension credit income they receive is disregarded in the assessment of disposable income. As with income support and job-seeker’s allowance, a capital test also still applies.

  For those with no other source of income, or for whom all other income comes from benefits, the effect of disregarding pension credit will be the same as for those receiving income support and job-seeker’s allowance as their assessed disposable income will be nil.

  Our longer term aim is to reach a situation where all benefits are disregarded for both advice and assistance and civil legal aid. We will work towards this aim as resources allow.

Libraries

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many loans per 1,000 of the population were made by each local authority library in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06, also showing the percentage change over the same timescale.

Patricia Ferguson: This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally. Although Audit Scotland reports on certain performance indicators in respect of local Authority libraries, these do not cover the data sought. Further information may be available from the Scottish Library and Information Council.

Older People

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether geographical considerations will be taken into account under new bed blocking guidelines if local care for vulnerable elderly people is unavailable.

Lewis Macdonald: I am aware of the difficulties Highland Council is experiencing in meeting the community care needs of some older people on discharge from hospital due to geographical considerations. I understand that the council is addressing this issue and will submit a report to the Executive shortly for consideration.

Planning

Mr Andrew Arbuckle (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether pressure can be put on statutory consultative bodies to reduce their response times with regard to planning applications.

Johann Lamont: Improving efficiency is a key element of our programme of modernisation of the planning system. To that end the Executive recognises the need for a culture change in the way people and statutory bodies engage with the planning system. I am therefore keen to encourage a prompter response in respect of planning applications from those statutory consultees whose current response times are causing undue delays within the system.

  I will be raising this issue with my ministerial colleagues in relation to the statutory consultees for which they are responsible and with UK Government Ministers in relation to those bodies for which they are responsible.

Public Appointments

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all senior appointments that have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland’s Code of Practice in each of the last three years, also showing the remuneration and time commitment for each post.

Tom McCabe: Details of all regulated public appointments (including terms of appointment and remuneration) are published on the Executive’s Public Bodies website at: http://194.247.95.101/Topics/Government/public-bodies/public-appointments .

  Information on time commitment is not held centrally.

  The Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland took office on 1 June 2004 and formally introduced the first Code of Practice for the public appointments process in Scotland on 1 April 2006. Prior to then, the commissioner had adopted as an interim measure the Code of Practice used by her predecessor, the UK Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Public Transport

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects in Dumfries and Galloway have been approved for Bus Route Development Grant funding and how much has been allocated to these projects.

Tavish Scott: The Dumfries Town Services project – Dumfries and Galloway Council’s only application for Bus Route Development Grant so far - has been awarded £535,000 over the three financial years 2005-06 to 2007-08.

Rail Network

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in hand to procure the rolling stock required for the Airdrie to Bathgate railway line.

Tavish Scott: Work is in hand to ensure that rolling stock manufacturers are ready to produce the trains we will require for a variety of projects across Scotland including those for Airdrie to Bathgate should Parliament approve the bill.

  The procurement process itself will be carried out with the co-operation of the franchise operator, First ScotRail, in consultation with Transport Scotland, commencing in 2007. The rolling stock will be available for the projected completion date of the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Registers of Scotland

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22883 by George Lyon on 2 March 2006, when relocation ministers will announce the results of Stage 2 of the location review of Registers of Scotland.

George Lyon: The Executive will announce the outcome of Stage 2 of the location review of Registers of Scotland shortly.

Roads

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps its Environment and Rural Affairs Department is taking to aid rural development in South Lanarkshire by securing additional resources for rural roads.

Ross Finnie: It is a matter for South Lanarkshire Council, as the roads authority for the area, to allocate its funding resources on the basis of local needs and priorities. This would include provision for additional spending on local roads.

Roads

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes for the A75 (a) have been completed since 1999, (b) are under way or (c) are planned to commence by 2008-09, showing the actual or estimated (i) cost and (ii) commencement date of each scheme.

Tavish Scott: The information requested is set out in the following table.

  

 Route
 Scheme
 Status
 Possible Construction Start
 Cost (£ Million) (E = Estimated, A = Actual)


 A7
 Hawick Traffic Relief
 Completed 12/00
 N/A
 3.9 A


 A7
 Auchenrivock
 Planned
 Q2 07-08
 6.75 E


 A76
 Crossroads
 Completed 11/03
 N/A
 2.0 A


 A76
 Glenairlie
 Planned
 Q1 07-08
 15.4 E


 A75
 The Glen Improvement
 Completed 09/99
 N/A
 10.1 A


 A75
 Barfil to Bettyknowes
 Planned
 Q4 06-07
 2.76 E


 A75
 Newton Stewart
 Planned
 Q4 06-07
 2.11 E


 A75
 Planting End
 Planned
 Q4 06-07
 3.32 E


 A75
 Dunragit
 Planned
 Q4 08-09
 15.4 E


 A75
 Hardgrove
 Planned
 Q4 08-09
 8.42 E


 A75
 Cairntop
 Planned
 Q3 07-08
 5.58 E



  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes for the A76 (a) have been completed since 1999, (b) are under way or (c) are planned to commence by 2008-09, showing the actual or estimated (i) cost and (ii) commencement date of each scheme.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28229 on 21 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes for the A7 (a) have been completed since 1999, (b) are under way or (c) are planned to commence by 2008-09, showing the actual or estimated (i) cost and (ii) commencement date of each scheme.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28229 on 21 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes for the A70 (a) have been completed since 1999, (b) are under way or (c) are planned to commence by 2008-09, showing the actual or estimated (i) cost and (ii) commencement date of each scheme.

Tavish Scott: The information requested is not held centrally. The A70 is classified as a local road and the statutory responsibility for any improvements to the route would therefore fall to those local authorities through which the route runs.

Scottish Executive Funding

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each of its agencies has given to the Springboard consultancy training organisation in each year since 2003.

Mr Tom McCabe: This information is not held centrally. Agencies will take decisions on their training requirements based on their specific needs.

Scottish Executive Funding

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the level of public funding received by the Springboard consultancy training organisation.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer to the member to the answer to question S2W-28240 on 21 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Sport

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the decision to relocate the headquarters of  sportscotland to Glasgow, in light of the recently published findings of PMP/Donaldsons’ 2004 review of the financial, economic and business management implications of the relocation.

Patricia Ferguson: No. The recommendation from the 2004 PMP/Donaldsons Report was based on an analysis of the socio-economic benefits to Scotland as a whole rather than on what is best value to the organisation at the current time. In the longer term, I would hope that the opportunities afforded by relocating to Glasgow will be beneficial to  sportscotland and present an exciting opportunity for it to develop and influence the future of sport in Scotland. This relocation is also good news for the east end of Glasgow, an area with pressing social and economic needs.

Supermarkets

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government about potential monopoly issues in respect of supermarkets in Scotland’s island communities.

Ross Finnie: No, we have not made representations to Her Majesty’s Government about this. The Competition Commission is, however, currently investigating competition issues in the UK grocery retail market. In the course of its investigation the Competition Commission will be considering all aspects of the groceries market, including whether the nature, or extent, of competition varies across the UK.

Taxation

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive at what level of income a parent forum or parent council becomes liable to pay corporation tax.

Robert Brown: Corporation tax is liable to be paid on profits from trading activities, or from investment income or capital gains.

  It is not anticipated that Parent Councils will, in normal circumstances, require to pay tax since fundraising activities such as school fetes, dances, coffee mornings etc. are generally not considered to be trading activities.

  HM Revenue and Customs will publish updated advice later this year for clubs and voluntary associations on the issue of corporation tax.

VisitScotland

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff have been employed by VisitScotland and what its staff costs have been in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) department and (b) salary band.

Patricia Ferguson: The number of full time equivalent staff employed by VisitScotland in each year since 1999 along with their associated costs is shown in the following table:

  

 Year
Staff Numbers
Staff Costs (£000)


 1999-00
 193
 4,687


 2000-01
 199
 5,176


 2001-02
 215
 5,666


 2002-03
 211
 5,767


 2003-04
 197
 5,789


 2004-05
 218
 7,078



  A breakdown of staff costs by department and salary band would not be consistent over the period as a result of the restructuring of VisitScotland which took place in 2001-02 when changes were made to both the department and salary grading structures of the Scottish Tourist Board.

  Figures for 2004-05 include the staff costs of the transition project to merge VisitScotland with the 14 area tourist boards, which was implemented in April 2005. Figures for 2005-06 will not be available until VisitScotland publishes its audited accounts later in the year.